Corps Tour 1980

As the 54 seater coach pulled away from Worthy Down at 6.00 am on the morning of Wednesday April 9, the sun was shining, as it did for all the tour. The 32 strong party was sponsored by the Save and Prosper Group and Mr Len Pilling, who many will remember as an SQMS in the Corps, and who is now working for the Southampton Branch of Save and Prosper, accompanied the tour as referee for the Menzies Cup game. Led by SQMS Tom Frizell the card school was immediately in being and despite interruptions for 'travel' sickness from Cromer and Jackson, the game was soon going strong. The boat trip was very smooth (Pte Geoff Slevin might not agree too wholeheartedly with that), and despite the Chairman and Secretary getting lost on the boat, after an hour and a half on Belgian soil we were having supper at Emblem. All the arrangements at Emblem ran very smoothly, thanks to the excellent administration of tour secretary, Maj Chris Budd.
The next day we traveled to Mons to play a SHAPE RFC team and despite some 'left turn' diversions by the chairman in a now famous dream sequence, we kicked off at 1730 for the first game of the tour. It was RAPC all the way in the opening stages and after some five minutes Cromer, who was unlucky not to score in the first minute, went over for a try which Farrington converted. Among the forwards Frizell and Corps skipper Drake were very noticeable early on. The scratch SHAPE team slowly came back into the game and after a scrum close to the RAPC line the winger scored in the corner.
It was the forwards again 15 minutes later who, after some scrappy play, set up a move which resulted in a good passing movement between True and Smith, True eventually scoring. Again Farrington converted. Just before half time SHAPE scored with a penalty. To our dismay on the half time whistle SSM Harry Smith was forced to retire with a knee injury and Woolford came on as substitute. The second half was for the most part all RAPC. Woolford kicked a penalty and after 20 minutes Crabtree went over or a try. A few minutes later Rose was tackled 10 yards short of the line and from the lineout the ball went to True who weaved his way through for his second try. Despite a final ten minutes pressure by SHAPE, the Corps held their lead and ran out winners by 25pts to 7.

The evening's entertainment was very memorable. 'Singing in the Rain' became the Corps song, as well as a ditty telling of the repeated misfortunes of a lass called Nellie with a cow in a barn. Gene Kelly however would not recognise our version of 'Singing in the Rain', but there is no doubt that ours is more popular with the female members of the younger generation. All the blame for these songs must be laid at the hands of Chairman Cook and a certain Farrington.
From the SHAPE club we moved on to an American Club and then to a local 'Gasthaus'. After entertainments from various members of the party, including some memorable moments from Messrs Pilling and Slevin we arrived back in Emblem somewhat tired. Entertainment followed with MFO boxes, the Chairman showing us how adept he is at moving them when empty. But eventually we all managed to get to bed.
Friday was a free day and Maj Chris Budd took us on a tour of the Waterloo battlefield. We travelled back via Brussels spending a couple of hours in the square.
On Saturday we travelled to Rheindahlen to play the annual Menzies Cup game against RAPC (BAOR). It was a windy day and the Save and Prosper flag flew high above the Rheindahien pavilion. The UK side kicked off and for the first ten minutes the two sides weighed each other up. McEleny opened the scoring for BAOR with a penalty for offside.
The UK side applied heavy pressure and Hodson was unlucky not to score in the corner. Eventually the line was breached when, after a scrum, Griggs brothers, Martin for UK and Alan who led the BAOR side, had a splendid tussle, Martin probably getting the better, especially in the first half. It was the first time the two had played against each other.
The second half opened scrappily and UK would have scored through Hotchkiss, Hodson and Cromer if handling and backing-up had been better. After 12 minutes Hodson took the ball from a kick ahead and scored close to the posts. Woolford converted. The BAOR side, always looking dangerous on the break, were making good use of Darby and Anderson who were both strong runners. Anderson was unlucky after a 30 yard run to be brought down close to the line. However after Woolford had kicked a penalty, Darby scored with a solo run from a set piece move from a free kick. Woolford, playing at full back, was a danger to BAOR whenever he came into the line and his presence was felt when he took a good pass in the line and thiust his way over the line. The BAOR side continued to attack as time began to run out but after a move involving Fairclough and Slevin, who had a very good game, Crabtree, shrugging off two tackles, scored in the corner. BAOR had the last word when Darby fed to Anderson to score. BAOR 11 pts UK 21. After the game, the Menzies Cup was presented to Maj Clive Drake, the UK skipper, by Col J. Thorneycroft, Command Paymaster BAOR.
The two teams then went to the Command Pay Office for the annual Rugby club dinner. Col Thorneycroft, the guest of honour, congratulated both teams on the spirit of the game and votes of thanks were given by Maj Cook, Maj Drake and Co! Menzies. Corps colours were presented to Sgt Cromer and Cpl Woolford and a special presentation was made to SSM Harry Smith for his contribution to Corps Rugby over 20 years. The evening was spent in the JRC of the CPO and we are grateful to Col Thorneycroft for extending his facilities to us.
The next morning, after everybody was roused, some taking more rousing than others, the tour party set off for Holland to play the Agricultural College at Wageningen. This was the team played on the tour 2 years earlier and after the two serious games this was treated more as a social fixture. However such was the spirit in the side that the Corps team played some splendid Rugby. The spectators seemed to lose interest all of a sudden, despite the open game and good Rugby, and the team were at a loss to understand why until they realised that the Wageningen ladies' team was playing on an adjacent pitch.
The Corps team proved too strong for the Dutch side winning by 45 pts to 9. Tries were scored by Hotchkiss (2), Woolford (3), Hooton and Rose (2) and a penalty and 5 conversions by Woolford.
After an excellent leek soup the Dutch hospitality was magnificent. Having beaten them at Rugby, we beat them at their own parlour game and then an impromptu cabaret in the form of a 'Zigga-Zumba' was provided by a girl friend of the Dutch side. The 'character of the Tour', Sgt Arthur Bishop replied with his own version. The next morning a weary touring party rose late and set off for home after lunch. With the fine weather some members took the opportunity to paddle at Zeebrugge. The usual problems and delays were experienced at the Dover Customs but, as the authorities discovered, everybody was within his entitlement. Eventually the party proceeded to Worthy Down, arriving at midnight.
There can be no doubt that the tour was a great success. This was largely helped by the sponsorship by Save and Prosper, but the main reason was that the party was made up of 32 players who wanted to tour and play Rugby. It was encouraging to see new players Crabtree, Ward, and Smith all improve over the season and they were a credit on the tour.

Final Resuits
V   SHAPE RFC 25-7
v    RAPC (BAOR) 21-11
v    Wageningen 45-9

Top scorer - Woolford 37 points
For the new season 1980-81, Capt J. G. Graham of the Apprentices College will be the new Corps Secretary.